Brakes
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LeadDog
Sep 25, 2010, 4:53:29 PM9/25/10
to Carbent
I got the Zero Gravity brakes with my Carbent and have never been
happy with the stopping power of the brake. I also ride my 20 year
old Trek and the Shimano 105 dual pivots can stop me a lot faster than
the Zero Gravity brakes. They are so much better feeling to me that
if I need to stop in a hurry it is no problem with them. The Zero
Gravities on the other hand take much longer to stop even when using a
lot of force. Is there any way to get the Zero Gravities to stop
better? Dana also said that the Bacchetta brakes were also an option
for the Carbent. Anyone have any suggestions on how to get better
braking?
happy with the stopping power of the brake. I also ride my 20 year
old Trek and the Shimano 105 dual pivots can stop me a lot faster than
the Zero Gravity brakes. They are so much better feeling to me that
if I need to stop in a hurry it is no problem with them. The Zero
Gravities on the other hand take much longer to stop even when using a
lot of force. Is there any way to get the Zero Gravities to stop
better? Dana also said that the Bacchetta brakes were also an option
for the Carbent. Anyone have any suggestions on how to get better
braking?
mike
Sep 26, 2010, 11:41:29 AM9/26/10
to Carbent
Brakes are for slowing down. Carbents are for going fast. What is
the problem?
Comparisons of braking on different bikes doesn't take into
consideration all the factors. Rim, brake pad, brake caliper, brake
cable housing and its length, and lever.
On an upright short brake housing run gives you a little advantage
already.
I have the Negative G brakes. Using the yellow swiss stop there is
good braking on carbon. As the pads wore power decreased. That is
what was related on my prior post. I found a new pad, kool stop
salmon in particular gave improved performance on aluminum rims...and
are significantly less expensive. Willie pointed out that the
mechanical range of the brake is only effective in the first half of
the pad life.
So what can you do to improve.
Look at levers, cable housing,
consider kool stop salmon pads.
Try your old 105 brake
Make sure the brake is not in the tire change mode.....
Mike
the problem?
Comparisons of braking on different bikes doesn't take into
consideration all the factors. Rim, brake pad, brake caliper, brake
cable housing and its length, and lever.
On an upright short brake housing run gives you a little advantage
already.
I have the Negative G brakes. Using the yellow swiss stop there is
good braking on carbon. As the pads wore power decreased. That is
what was related on my prior post. I found a new pad, kool stop
salmon in particular gave improved performance on aluminum rims...and
are significantly less expensive. Willie pointed out that the
mechanical range of the brake is only effective in the first half of
the pad life.
So what can you do to improve.
Look at levers, cable housing,
consider kool stop salmon pads.
Try your old 105 brake
Make sure the brake is not in the tire change mode.....
Mike
Willie
Sep 26, 2010, 12:12:55 PM9/26/10
to Carbent
I found that if you shim the brake pad holders as the pads wear on the
negative gravity brakes, they continue to perform very well. However,
that is a pain to keep doing. And because they are hard to release, I
switched to the Bacchetta X-eye for RAAM. They work nearly the same
on stopping force, but are much easier to maintain.
Willie
negative gravity brakes, they continue to perform very well. However,
that is a pain to keep doing. And because they are hard to release, I
switched to the Bacchetta X-eye for RAAM. They work nearly the same
on stopping force, but are much easier to maintain.
Willie
Dana Lieberman
Sep 26, 2010, 3:16:18 PM9/26/10
to car...@googlegroups.com
I don't recall which wheels and pads you are running, but the yellow pads will have okay performance with aluminum rims. Switch to so other pads and you will probably find the brakes work better. Note, you need pads that are compatible with the Zero Gravity brakes - not Shimano compatible pads!
Dana
--
Dana Lieberman, Owner
Bent Up Cycles
7828 Balboa Blvd.
Van Nuys, CA 91406
www.bentupcycles.com
Dana
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www.bentupcycles.com
LeadDog
Sep 27, 2010, 10:42:26 PM9/27/10
to Carbent
There a great deal of noticeable difference between the braking of the
two bike. The rims on both bike are Mavic Ceramic Rims. The brake
pads on the 105s are Shimano ceramic pads. The pads in the Negative G
are Kool Stop ceramic pads. I don't mind putting a lot more force to
the levers on the Carbent but it isn't getting anywhere near the
stopping power that I would like. I have checked the pads and they
are not wearing out.
I did think about putting the 105s on the carbent but I think Dana
will confirm that they will not fit. The brakes were checked to make
sure they were not in tire change mode. With all of that in mind I
just was wonder if anyone out there had any clues to why there is such
a big difference in the braking performance. In my mind it is the
Negative G brakes.
two bike. The rims on both bike are Mavic Ceramic Rims. The brake
pads on the 105s are Shimano ceramic pads. The pads in the Negative G
are Kool Stop ceramic pads. I don't mind putting a lot more force to
the levers on the Carbent but it isn't getting anywhere near the
stopping power that I would like. I have checked the pads and they
are not wearing out.
I did think about putting the 105s on the carbent but I think Dana
will confirm that they will not fit. The brakes were checked to make
sure they were not in tire change mode. With all of that in mind I
just was wonder if anyone out there had any clues to why there is such
a big difference in the braking performance. In my mind it is the
Negative G brakes.
LeadDog
Sep 27, 2010, 10:43:44 PM9/27/10
to Carbent
Willie it sounds like they have less stopping force? Then that
wouldn't be a direction I would want to go.
wouldn't be a direction I would want to go.
LeadDog
Sep 27, 2010, 10:46:53 PM9/27/10
to Carbent
Dana the rims are Mavic Ceramic and the pads are Kool Stop ceramic
pads. I would have thought this combination would have given me great
braking power but that is not what I'm experiencing.
On Sep 26, 12:16 pm, Dana Lieberman <bentupcyc...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I don't recall which wheels and pads you are running, but the yellow pads
> will have okay performance with aluminum rims. Switch to so other pads and
> you will probably find the brakes work better. Note, you need pads that are
> compatible with the Zero Gravity brakes - not Shimano compatible pads!
>
> Dana
>
>
>
>
>
> On Sat, Sep 25, 2010 at 1:53 PM, LeadDog <jardine.du...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > I got the Zero Gravity brakes with my Carbent and have never been
> > happy with the stopping power of the brake. I also ride my 20 year
> > old Trek and the Shimano 105 dual pivots can stop me a lot faster than
> > the Zero Gravity brakes. They are so much better feeling to me that
> > if I need to stop in a hurry it is no problem with them. The Zero
> > Gravities on the other hand take much longer to stop even when using a
> > lot of force. Is there any way to get the Zero Gravities to stop
> > better? Dana also said that the Bacchetta brakes were also an option
> > for the Carbent. Anyone have any suggestions on how to get better
> > braking?
>
> > --
> > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
> > "Carbent" group.
> > To post to this group, send email to car...@googlegroups.com.
> > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
> > carbent+u...@googlegroups.com<carbent%2Bunsu...@googlegroups.com >
> > .
pads. I would have thought this combination would have given me great
braking power but that is not what I'm experiencing.
On Sep 26, 12:16 pm, Dana Lieberman <bentupcyc...@gmail.com> wrote:
> I don't recall which wheels and pads you are running, but the yellow pads
> will have okay performance with aluminum rims. Switch to so other pads and
> you will probably find the brakes work better. Note, you need pads that are
> compatible with the Zero Gravity brakes - not Shimano compatible pads!
>
> Dana
>
>
>
>
>
> On Sat, Sep 25, 2010 at 1:53 PM, LeadDog <jardine.du...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > I got the Zero Gravity brakes with my Carbent and have never been
> > happy with the stopping power of the brake. I also ride my 20 year
> > old Trek and the Shimano 105 dual pivots can stop me a lot faster than
> > the Zero Gravity brakes. They are so much better feeling to me that
> > if I need to stop in a hurry it is no problem with them. The Zero
> > Gravities on the other hand take much longer to stop even when using a
> > lot of force. Is there any way to get the Zero Gravities to stop
> > better? Dana also said that the Bacchetta brakes were also an option
> > for the Carbent. Anyone have any suggestions on how to get better
> > braking?
>
> > --
> > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
> > "Carbent" group.
> > To post to this group, send email to car...@googlegroups.com.
> > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
> > .
Willie
Sep 27, 2010, 11:02:01 PM9/27/10
to Carbent
I suspect that your Neg G brakes are bottoming out internally. Mine
did this with just a tiny bit of pad wear. I modified them to extend
the range of motion once I figured that out. And once understood the
problem, made the modifications, and starting using shims as the pads
wear (adjusting the cable will NOT work), the braking performance
stayed top notch. When I switched to the X-eye, braking took a touch
more lever force to get the same braking (subjective at best). With
either brakes (working properly) it's easy to skid the rear wheel.
However, if the Neg G's were out of adjustment, it was not possible to
skid the rear. In fact I did mountain descents were I could barely
slow down for turns. It was scary at best. That's when I started
really taking a look at what was going on. I bet you have the same
problem. In which case, if you switch to the X-eyes you will have a
HUGE improvement in braking.
Willie
> > > Mike- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
did this with just a tiny bit of pad wear. I modified them to extend
the range of motion once I figured that out. And once understood the
problem, made the modifications, and starting using shims as the pads
wear (adjusting the cable will NOT work), the braking performance
stayed top notch. When I switched to the X-eye, braking took a touch
more lever force to get the same braking (subjective at best). With
either brakes (working properly) it's easy to skid the rear wheel.
However, if the Neg G's were out of adjustment, it was not possible to
skid the rear. In fact I did mountain descents were I could barely
slow down for turns. It was scary at best. That's when I started
really taking a look at what was going on. I bet you have the same
problem. In which case, if you switch to the X-eyes you will have a
HUGE improvement in braking.
Willie
>
> - Show quoted text -
Dana Lieberman
Sep 27, 2010, 11:02:42 PM9/27/10
to car...@googlegroups.com
I would try flipping the levers to make sure you have them in the correct direction. I know you tried this, but the levers on that brake are a bit confusing...perhaps you got them backwards?
I can't speak to the whole ceramic rim thing...never tried them...
Dana
I can't speak to the whole ceramic rim thing...never tried them...
Dana
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to carbent+u...@googlegroups.com.
LeadDog
Sep 27, 2010, 11:03:09 PM9/27/10
to Carbent
Whoops looks like I have egg all over my face. I did check the lever
for removing the tires and it looked right to me so I figured it was
right. I just now went I played with that lever and it was in the
wrong position. Early indications are that I have lots of brakes
now. I can't wait to get it on the road I find out how good there
are. Thanks for the tips. This is why I asked.
Dana Lieberman
Sep 27, 2010, 11:03:58 PM9/27/10
to car...@googlegroups.com
Been there...done that! That's why I made the suggestion! :)
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LeadDog
Oct 1, 2010, 7:56:09 PM10/1/10
to Carbent
Ok that fixed the brakes. They work wonderfully now. I can't believe
I road the bike a whole year like that. I mostly ride in the country
and only needed to slow down but when I was going through town a
couple of times I wanted more brakes.
Dana I the review I submitted to BentUp Cycles for the Carbent Raven
Sport needs to be changed. I'll look and see if I can edit it or you
can tell me if there is anything that can be done about it?
Ceramic Rims have lots of stopping power even when wet. I have yet to
wear a ceramic rim out. There are on both of my other bikes and have
been on them for 15 years. I really like the rims that is why I got
them.
On Sep 27, 8:03 pm, Dana Lieberman <bentupcyc...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Been there...done that! That's why I made the suggestion! :)
>
>
>
>
>
> On Mon, Sep 27, 2010 at 8:03 PM, LeadDog <jardine.du...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Whoops looks like I have egg all over my face. I did check the lever
> > for removing the tires and it looked right to me so I figured it was
> > right. I just now went I played with that lever and it was in the
> > wrong position. Early indications are that I have lots of brakes
> > now. I can't wait to get it on the road I find out how good there
> > are. Thanks for the tips. This is why I asked.
>
> > --
> > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
> > "Carbent" group.
> > To post to this group, send email to car...@googlegroups.com.
> > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
> > carbent+u...@googlegroups.com<carbent%2Bunsu...@googlegroups.com >
> > .
I road the bike a whole year like that. I mostly ride in the country
and only needed to slow down but when I was going through town a
couple of times I wanted more brakes.
Dana I the review I submitted to BentUp Cycles for the Carbent Raven
Sport needs to be changed. I'll look and see if I can edit it or you
can tell me if there is anything that can be done about it?
Ceramic Rims have lots of stopping power even when wet. I have yet to
wear a ceramic rim out. There are on both of my other bikes and have
been on them for 15 years. I really like the rims that is why I got
them.
On Sep 27, 8:03 pm, Dana Lieberman <bentupcyc...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Been there...done that! That's why I made the suggestion! :)
>
>
>
>
>
> On Mon, Sep 27, 2010 at 8:03 PM, LeadDog <jardine.du...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Whoops looks like I have egg all over my face. I did check the lever
> > for removing the tires and it looked right to me so I figured it was
> > right. I just now went I played with that lever and it was in the
> > wrong position. Early indications are that I have lots of brakes
> > now. I can't wait to get it on the road I find out how good there
> > are. Thanks for the tips. This is why I asked.
>
> > --
> > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
> > "Carbent" group.
> > To post to this group, send email to car...@googlegroups.com.
> > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
> > .
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